Smokeables, edibles, and bevvies with a buzz are finally getting their rulebook in Minneapolis parks. In response to Minnesota's green light for public consumption of cannabis and THC products, the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) whipped up draft policies for public perusal and, of course, some back and forth with the locals. So, if you've got a bone to pick or a bouquet to throw regarding the proposed Tobacco and Cannabis Policy and the fresh-off-the-press THC Policy, now's the time to sing out loui—ah, respectfully submit your feedback, until January 21, 2025.
Here's the deal: last year, state law decided to allow smoking and vaping of Cannabis or THC goodies on public property, but threw a bone to local jurisdictions to say yea or nay. The MPRB, not to miss a beat, set out to not just update their Tobacco Policy to invite cannabis to the party but to also set the stage for how THC-infused munchies and sips should be sold. You can sneak a peek—or a deep dive—into the drafts in English, Spanish, Hmong, and Somali and chime in with your two cents using the Public Comment Survey.
Dust off your calendars and make some notes, because the MPRB isn't just going to read all your comments and keep shtum. February 2025 is all about sifting through said feedback and giving these policies a bit of a facelift where needed. Come March, it'll be your chance to bend an ear or two during a public hearing—face to face with the powers that be. And, if the stars align, by the end of that very month, the MPRB Commissioners will have those draft policies sitting pretty on their desks for consideration.
If you're the type to keep your ear to the ground or just need to know when to show up and speak up, do yourselves a solid and swing by the project page. Sign yourself up for those email updates and watch as these policies unfold—much like a well-tended bud, one might say—over at the MPRB's digital digs. Stay informed, stay involved, and let's shape how Minneapolis parks get to handle a puff or a nibble of something more...elevating.
